Safety tread



Dec. 15,1925.Y 1,566,042

i F. A. SCHMIDT SAFETY TREAD Filed Dec. 17, 1924 2 Sheets-5210.1 1

F.4 A. SCHMIDT Dec. l5. 1 925' SAFETY TREAD 2 Sheets-Shut 2 Fil-ed D ec. 17. 1924 PatentedA Dec. 15, 1925.

UNITED N STATES 1,566,042 PATENT oFFicE.

FRANK A. SCHMIDT, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

SAFETY TREAD.

-Application led December 17, 1924. Serial No. 756,562.

`the tread or ystair surface and the object of the invention is `primarily to provide avform in which a tread may be readily inserted and from which it may be removed.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a frame or form which may be incorporated in the stairway `and which will provide a definite guide 'for the workman in filling in or applying lthe material required for finishing each step of a stairway; toprovide a form or frame for finishingv stairs which will furnish a protectivenosing for the cementitious material; vwhich will be an ornament to the stairway, and which *willl provide a convenient receiver and container for treads. These and other objects are carried out and performed yby the invention illustrated in a preferred form in the accompanying drawing, in which- F ig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a concrete stairwayshowing my invention as incorporated therewith. t n

Fig. 2 is a lan view showing the' framing which is to e embedded kin the concrete stairway and which furnishes the gauge for the concrete to be supplied. l V

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on lines 3-3 Fig.`2 showing the invent-ion as applied, with the tread in position.

Fig. 4 is a sectional side view illustrating a tread frame structure composed of a single piece of metal or other suitable material.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of same.

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of a form of the invention showing a convenient method of applying a solid nosing to the frame, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of a device, providing for the renewability and replacement of a nosing which has become worn, damaged or otherwise unfit for further use.

The invention is tosubstitute the unsatisfactory methods now used in forming the stair risers and treads, which require that the risers and treads be marked ofi1 anew when the finishing coat or layer is applied. As now practiced, when the form is stripped or removed, there remains only a mass of bulky, rough concrete, with no delineations according to which the finishing material could vbe applied. The present invention, therefore, is designed to obviate these difiiculties and thereby to economize in c ost, `and one of the prime aims of the invention is to construct a framing or form which provides a recess or pocket for a tread fabricated of a comparatively soft substance, as rubber, cork, or any other suitable material which will insure a person against slipping and at the same time produce practically a silent stairway.

In its broad sense, the invention comprises a frame which is arranged to be set in place with the form and to be embedded in the concrete material to become a unit therewith and provide a definite location for the tread.

The invention also contemplates the provision of a simple device in which, in additionto providing a receptacle or container for treads, the concrete material forming the edge of the treading surface of the steps is securely protected against any damage of wear or force yby a nosing which is arranged to be embedded in the concrete and to become a permanent, reinforcing unit with it.

In the drawings, the invention is shown as consisting preferably of a metallic unit which is arranged to be embedded in the concretionaiy niassof a stairway. 1t may consist of a plurality of complementary ,members so conjoined as to form the unit,

orV it may consist entirely of a single body of suitable material, both forms being comprehended within this invention.

Referring to the drawings, in which the invention is expressed in the several iorms mentioned and in which like reference characters designate like parts and especially referring to Fig. 3, it will be seen that the unit, generally shown at l, includes two parts or sections, 2 and 3 respectively, of sufiicient length to extend into and be embedded in the stringere or carriages, i of a stairway, with whichit becomes a permanent, reinforcing structuie. The section or part 2 of the frame comprises a flat plate, or strip 2, havingan upwardly extending portion constituting a nosing 5 which may be of the "shape shown, or of any other shape. Said nosing 5 terminates ,in a 4substantially vertical wall ,6 which extends downwardly. :for a distance desired and required by the thickness of the tread insert, a part of the area of which tread insert this downwardly extended wall 6 defines. This downwardly extending wall 6 forms substantially a rear pocket 7 into which a portionof the concrete mass is received and by which the nosing and concrete are consolidated. The Hat portion 2 of the section or part 2, .extends a desirable `distance Ibeyond the vertical yline of the wall G and forms a rest o r support for the horizontal branch 8 of an angle plate 8, which is fastened to the fiat or horizontal portion 2 of the section or part 2]. The top of the vertical branch 8 of said angle bar S is7 as seen, on a line with the end of' the downwardly extending wall 6 and forms a gauge by which the level of the cementitious filling A. is indicated and determined.

The section 3, as shown in Fig. 3, consists of an angle iron 9 preferably of a length to extend into and be embedded in the stringers yor carriages of a stairway. The horizontal portion 9 of said angle iron 9 is arranged on the same horizontal plane as portion 2 of the plate 2, and the top of the vertical portion 9 of said angle iron 9 is on a line with the top of the nosing 5 of the plate 2. The said horizontal portion 9 of said angle iron 9 forms a rest or Support for the horizontal part 10 of an angle iron 10, the top of the vertical part 10 of which extends in a horizontal line with the top of the portion 3 of the angle iron 3 and constitutes :i gauge for indicating the level of the plastic or other filler. The two seetions 2 and 3 are conjoined in spaced relation by transverse bars 11, to which the respective sections 2 and 3, and their complements, to wit, the angle iron 8 and 9 are fastened in any desirable manner as by rivets The difference between the heights of the angle iron portions 8 and 10 of the respective sections 2 .and 3, and the tops Y ci said sections 2 and 3 provides a recess or depression B and determines the thickness of'a tread insert 13, which fills said recess or depression. This tread insert 13 may be fastened in any secure fashion within its enclosing space, as by cementing, and may be readily dissociated from the frame structure and replaced, without disturbing such structure in any wise.

In Figs. et and 5, I have illustrated a form of tread frame which instead of comprising separate sections conjoined to form a unit structure, as described, is composed of snbstantially a single piece 14, having vertical members 15 integral with the horizontal plate or single piece 14e, which is formed with a curving nosing 16 and a rear vertical wall or riser 17, The nosing and riser extends above `the top of said member 15 for a detern/ iinate distance and youtline the depth which is to be left for a tread insert. These members 15, while capable of serving as guide or gauge devices for the level of the cement filling, preferably serve to support a guide or gauge strip 18, which may be attached to said members in any desirable manner and which form a troweling guide and become a part of and reinforcement .for

the cement structure. This strip 18 may be mounted for adjustment V,upon y'said vertical members 15, ijf desired, for ythe purpose of securing accurate alinement and also for the purpose Vof varying the depth of the recesses or tread spaces of the different steps of a stairway..

In Fig. 5 a form of the invention is shown in which a solid nosing 19, of metal may be associated with a plate 2O adapted to be einbedded in the cement mass. The nosing 19 in this instance is preferably welded to the plate 20, and such application of the nosing may occur after the plate 20 has been embedded in the concrete. The nosing 19 in this instance, is rabbeted Vas seen at 21 and eo-operates with an ,adjustable plate or member 42 1 in forming a guide or troweling ledge by which the leveln of the concrete iller is determined.

ln Fig. 7, I have shown a form .of the in vention that may be employed to provide a nosing which may be dissociated from the balance of lthe structural arrangement. This form embodies as shown, a plate 22, bent upon itself on one side to yform ,a curving nosing 23, similar to that .described in ,connection with Figs, 2 and 3, and on the ,other side bent to form a riser A2.4 which extends, as shown, in such relation to said nosing as to provide a recess or space for a tread insert and at the same time form a guide. The riser 211 of the plate 22 is in this form., detacha-bly connected by any suitable means, as bolts 27, to the risers 25 lot the complementary plate 26, which, except as indicated, is indentical in shape and design with those forms previously described. i

What I claim, sr

1. A stair tread structure as set forth, comprising a plate having a nosing terminating in substantially a vertical downwardly extended wall 4which delines the depth of a tread insert, and guide means on said plate and co-operating with said Wall to gauge the level of the cementitious lilling in which the structure is to be elnbedded,

2. A stair tread structure as set forth, comprising a plate bent to form a nosing, said nosing terminating in substantially a vertical downwardly extending` wall which defines the depth of the tread insert, and gauge means o n said plate and ofi-operating with the bottom of said downwardly extended wall to determine the level ofthe cement filling in which the structure is to be embedded.

3. A stair tread structure, as set orth, comprising a plate arran ed to be embedded in the concrete mass o a stairway,` said plate formed with an upwardly extending nosing terminating in a substantially vertical wall of anextent determinative of a tread insert, and upstanding gauge means on said plate, said means being on a line with the bottom of said vertical wall.

4. A stair tread structure, as set forth, comprising a plate arranged to be embedded i in the concrete mass of a stairway, said plate formed with an upwardly extending nosing, terminating in a substantially -vertical wall equal substantially to the thickness of a tread insert, and with vertical supports, and gauge members on said supports to determine the level of the concrete.

5. A stair tread structure comprising a plurality of series of plates, one bent upon itself at substantially right angles, and the other formed with an upwardly extending nosing terminating rearwardly thereof in a vertical wall, a vertical member on each plate extending in line with the end of said vertical wall and co-operating with said wall to form a recess for a tread insert and a gauge for concrete.

6. A stair tread framing, as set out, comprising a plurality of plates, arranged to be embedded in concrete, one of said plates bent upon itself at substantially right angles and the other of said plates formed with an upwardly extending nosing terminating rearwardly thereof in a downwardly extending wall and co-operating with said other plate to form a recess for a tread insert, gauge members on said plates extending on a line with the end of said downwardly extending wall and providing a troweling edge for concrete, means to support said plates in spaced relation, and means securing said plates and gauge members to said supportin means.

In testimony whereo I have set my hand.

FRANK A. SCHMIDT. 

